diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h
index 9b914c12a1..8e4d3cce13 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/_nib-internal.h
@@ -184,7 +184,10 @@ typedef struct _nib_onl_entry {
  */
 typedef struct {
     _nib_onl_entry_t *next_hop; /**< next hop to destination */
-    uint16_t ltime;             /**< lifetime in seconds */
+    /**
+     * @brief   Event for @ref GNRC_IPV6_NIB_RTR_TIMEOUT
+     */
+    evtimer_msg_event_t rtr_timeout;
 } _nib_dr_entry_t;
 
 /**
diff --git a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/nib.c b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/nib.c
index 46efdc21af..12e41d9ae0 100644
--- a/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/nib.c
+++ b/sys/net/gnrc/network_layer/ipv6/nib/nib.c
@@ -592,9 +592,12 @@ static void _handle_rtr_adv(gnrc_netif_t *netif, const ipv6_hdr_t *ipv6,
 #endif  /* !GNRC_IPV6_NIB_CONF_6LBR */
 #endif  /* GNRC_IPV6_NIB_CONF_MULTIHOP_P6C */
     if (rtr_adv->ltime.u16 != 0) {
+        uint16_t rtr_ltime = byteorder_ntohs(rtr_adv->ltime);
+
         dr = _nib_drl_add(&ipv6->src, netif->pid);
         if (dr != NULL) {
-            dr->ltime = byteorder_ntohs(rtr_adv->ltime);
+            _evtimer_add(netif, GNRC_IPV6_NIB_RTR_TIMEOUT, &dr->rtr_timeout,
+                         rtr_ltime * MS_PER_SEC);
         }
         else {
             DEBUG("nib: default router list is full. Ignoring RA from %s\n",
@@ -602,7 +605,7 @@ static void _handle_rtr_adv(gnrc_netif_t *netif, const ipv6_hdr_t *ipv6,
             return;
         }
         /* UINT16_MAX * 1000 < UINT32_MAX so there are no overflows */
-        next_timeout = _min(next_timeout, dr->ltime * MS_PER_SEC);
+        next_timeout = _min(next_timeout, rtr_ltime * MS_PER_SEC);
     }
     else {
         dr = _nib_drl_get(&ipv6->src, netif->pid);